I'm a huge Brian Wilson fan and Beach Boys follower, and a native of Los Angeles, California. I was a little girl during the rise of their music in early 1960s. So I see this book as part of Southern California history and culture, of which I am a student. I'm not neutral on the topic. I've watched virtually every YouTube video about the BB and Brian.

Much more has been written now, more authoritative and analytical, and the ongoing survival of Brian and the group are astounding. Brian's biopic Love and Mercy brought more people to the topic of the Beach Boys' early years, the backstory. Leaf wrote about them a long time ago. This book is mainly about Brian.

Leaf's work is seminal and important in understanding whatever "truth" can be gleaned from the group's legends. The book is one version of Brian's troubled and stellar story. I'll be reading more books about the group and Brian. I attended a live interview by Leaf, of Brian, in Oct. 2019 at UCLA for a scholarship fundraiser. Wonderful to see them both on stage, old friends.